Second Chances and A Grateful Heart

Sometimes life hands us a lot of dirt and we just have to push through it.  Sometimes we have to endure a lot of things so that we can BLOOM into something more beautiful than we ever could have imagined.  The trials we go through teach us, stretch us, strengthen us and challenge us to become the best that we can be.  
I've had my share of trials and over the years realize that I was not meant to have an easy life. I have had physical, emotional and heartbreaking challenges over and over again. I've learned to pick up the broken pieces and to keep pushing through it because someday all the pieces will come together to be a beautiful masterpiece of God's work.  Somehow God sees some grand potential in me that I am just trying my best to live up to.
On February 20th, 2012, God gave me a second chance to continue to bloom and grow.  He seemed to know what I needed right when I needed it most and gave me the opportunity to BE STILL long enough to figure some things out for much longer than I ever expected.  It has been almost two years since I got in my car accident.  An accident that should have taken my life but didn't.  An accident that could've caused permanent physical damage but it didn't.  An accident that I'm still trying to recover from physically and emotionally, but I still continue to grow stronger everyday.  An accident and experience that will not soon be forgotten.  It has drawn me closer to my loving Heavenly Father and helped me to have more faith and trust in His plan for me.  An accident that showed me LOVE from so many wonderful sources of family, friends, coworkers, strangers, nurses, doctors, physical therapists, care partners and much more.  An accident that provided more visitors to MCV hospital than they had probably ever seen.  To each of you that sent a card, came to visit, brought food, prayed on my behalf, reached out and showed me charity -THANK YOU!!!!

Things I am Grateful For:

* I am grateful to be a child of God - when we put our problems in God's hands, he put's peace in our hearts
* I am grateful for my family -where life begins and love never ends
* I am grateful for friends - they accept your past, support the present and encourage your future
* I am grateful for good health - our bodies are gifts from God that are resilient and are simply amazing
   with the ability to heal
* I am grateful for the seasons - just as the seasons, we too are meant for change
* I am grateful for chivalry - gentlemen that show politeness, valor, courtesy, generosity, loyalty and honor
* I am grateful for acts of affection - hugs and goodnight kisses - you should be kissed often, and by
   someone who knows how  -Gone with The Wind
* I am grateful for faith, hope and love - they help us to believe in what we thought the impossible
* I am grateful for laughter - laughter is the best medicine
* I am grateful for heartbreak - emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the very one that can heal it
* I am grateful for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - our founding father's desired it and so do I
* I am grateful for God's creation of nature - beauty is everywhere we look -sunrises, sunsets, flowers and more
* I am grateful to learn from mistakes - our weaknesses make us stronger
* I am grateful for random acts of kindness - making other people feel special and loved is a gift
* I am grateful for education - glad to be able to obtain knowledge, it really is power
* I am grateful for smiles - they are beautiful and contagious
* I am grateful for food - for me love goes into the food I make and I love the taste, the flavor, the colors, the aromas and being able to savor each bite
* I am grateful freedom - to be myself, to worship how I want and to dream the impossible dream
* I am grateful for service -give more, expect less  . . .
   as we give we find that sacrifice brings the blessings of Heaven
* I am grateful for modern day medicine -the knowledge and the doctors that help heal us
* I am grateful to have purpose - place your hand on your heart and feel that, it's called purpose 
   - you're alive for a reason, never give up

* I am grateful for books and music - they stir the soul, books take us to another place and music brings back memories and puts into words what our hearts feel
* I am grateful for the small everyday things - like showers, it was 3 months after my accident until I was able to have a shower
* I am grateful for a job, clothes, shelter and car -i have a lovely home, a wonderful job and a running car
* I am grateful for the power of prayer - never let your praying knees get lazy because prayer changes things
* I am grateful for everyday miracles - they are the tender mercies of God 

~ April Kay ~